The ex-soldier’s voice held just a hint of unexpected laughter in it as he and the girl and the boy and the woman sat there, counting down to the end.
Darren’s eyes suddenly widened and became as big as saucers. Filled with excitement and relief, he jumped to his feet, startling his sister and Mister Ellis. The retired soldier had never seen this side of the boy he’d known for the past year.
The 12-year-old finally remembered just why he’d been toting his satchel the entire day rather than just ditching it to lighten his load.
* * *
“Radio? Radio? RADIO???”
The boy practically screamed the third recitation of that word as he excitedly jumped up and down. Annie, ever the big sister, tried to calm her little brother down. She squeezed the hand of the poor woman lying next to her before
